Recap: Summer of the Sequels

by Matt Schaefer

     There’s no better time for audiences around the world to lay siege upon their local cinemas than during the summer, and Summer 2014 has been a good time for good ol’ American popcorn flicks. Guardians of the Galaxy annihilated the box office, grossing nearly $300 million after barely a month’s release, with Transformers: Age of Extinction and Maleficent trailing close behind. But, this summer has also been a breeding ground for sequels or remakes, such as Godzilla and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. And, among the list of anticipated sequels were The Expendables 3 and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

     Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is inspired by Frank Miller’s dark and gritty comic series and a sequel to 2005’s Sin City. A Dame to Kill For is co-directed by Miller and Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, From Dusk till Dawn) and recaptures the same intense and stylistic nature of its predecessor. The cast is fantastic, which includes Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Mickey Rourke, all giving truly memorable performances. Using an episodic format of storytelling with two segments inspired by Miller’s comics, the two stories written for the film are bland and uninspired and leave you feeling the film was trying too hard to be as brilliant as its predecessor.

    The Expendables 3 continues the franchise’s tale of classic violence and adventure. The action is tight and intense and is not overly wimped down by a PG-13 rating. The cast is just as entertaining as always with newcomers Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, and Harrison Ford being welcome additions. Mel Gibson’s antagonist is wonderfully evil, even if the film substitutes its storytelling for action. No, you’re not going to find an Oscar-worthy screenplay in Expendables 3, but you are going to get what you expect: big guys with big guns.

     So, for you action fans and blockbuster attendees out there, this summer was probably a good one, and this critic highly recommend giving The Expendables 3 a view. However, if you’re a fan of the Sin City comics or the original movie, it’s hard to say if A Dame to Kill For will live up to your expectations.